STATE GOVERNMENT KEEPS ELECTION PROMISE TO FIX DENNY AVENUE.

Local MLA Dr Tony Buti welcomed the announcement by Minister for Transport, Rita Saffioti that the Denny Avenue rail crossing will undergo grade separation as part of the State Government’s METRONET project.

Denny Avenue will be the first of 4 level rail crossings to be removed with construction expected to begin in 2018.

Dr Buti said, “This is great news and I thank Minister Saffioti for her prompt action in this matter.”

“The project will create around 350 jobs at an estimated cost of $62 million.”

“Planning for the project is being finalised and a decision as to what infrastructure will be used to separate the road and rail will be announced shortly,” Dr Buti said.

“I have been highlighting the urgent need to improve safety and congestion issues at this crossing since entering parliament in 2010.”

“I tabled a petition in parliament; raised the matter in grievances and made a number of requests for the then Minister for Transport, Dean Nalder, to visit Denny Avenue in order to understand our concerns. Unfortunately he continually refused my invitations.”

Dr Buti said, “The community really got behind my push for this upgrade and it is a good example of how together we can bring about change for the better.”

Darling Range MLA, Barry Urban also welcomed the news.

“It is good to see that this bottleneck is finally being addressed and my constituents living in the hills areas will no longer have to put up with delays and congestion at the crossing.”